@article{2013,title={TURKISH-FRENCH RELATIONSHIPS PRIOR TO THE OTTOMAN ERA AND THE CRUSADES},abstractNode={A long standing Turkish-French relationship exists, extending back to a period prior to the Middle Ages in Europe. Attila the Hun’s failure to capture Paris during his Roman Gaul expedition solidifies the existence of this relationship dating back to the European Hunnic empire. Some Arab and Western sources, albeit stories, claim that the French and Turks are descendants of Prophet Noah’s son Japheth; in effect deeming them to be cousins. Both in Europe during the 5th and 6th century Germanic (Teutonic) monarchies and after Fatih’s conquest of Istanbul, the French have felt the need to either align or to associate their dominion to the Roman Empire, thus highlighting the common culture that are shared between the two peoples. The uncertainty that had developed in the Turkish-French relationship following the demise of the Hunnic empire in Europe regained clarity with The Crusades. Western Europe and in particular the French in the 11th century entered deep into the Islamic world, beginning what was termed The Crusades, against an enemy state (people) with the slogan of “liberating the Holy Lands.” The seizure of the coastal areas of Syria and Palestine were followed by the establishment of Crusader States encompassing Urfa, Antioch (Antakya), Tripoli (Trablusşam) and Jerusalem which lasted almost two centuries. The French kings and noblemen, who personally took part in the First, Second and Third Crusades, hampered the Muslim Turkish settlements in Anatolia. Whilst they were harming the Turks, the French did not neglect to take advantage of the riches and the cultural developments that were taking place in the East. },author={İsmail CERAN},year={2013},journal={The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies}}